Native New Yorker Maria Lisella is a journalist specializing in travel. She is also a poet: her latest poetry collection is titled “Thieves in the Family.” she has produced two chapbooks: “Amore on Hope Street” and “Two Naked Feet .” Maria co-curates the Italian American Writers Association readings in New York City; is vice president of the Vito Marcantonio Forum; and has recently been named Queens Poet Laureate.

ITALICS Women’s History Month Special features two historians: Anna Pizzuti, a teacher who created a historical online database on Jews interned in Italy during Fascism, and Marcella Bencivenni, HOSTOS teacher and current editor of “The Italian American Review.”

Born in Brooklyn to Abbruzzese immigrants and raised in Staten Island, Donato Di Camillo’s works have been printed in over forty publications nationwide, in just the past year. He talks with Lucia Grillo about his journey to discovering his passion for photography and his unique perspective.

Filmmaker Natalie Abruzzo talks with Lucia Grillo about her documentary short, “The Sixty-Six Percent.” Hon. Francesco Genuardi, Consul General of Italy in New York, is among honorees at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum fundraiser.

This episode of ITALICS features Giovanni Reda, skateboarding’s most celebrated photographer. Mr. Reda is also a director, whose latest documentary - about acclaimed pro skater, Brian Anderson, recently coming out – has earned immense acclaim and support from the community, and due recognition: a feature in the New York Times, airing on Viceland, and new projects in the works. Lucia Grillo meets up with Mr. Reda at Diamond Supply NYC to talk with the artist during a retrospective of his photography.

ITALICS attends an outdoor performance of Harry Warren’s classics at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in Staten Island. Oscar-winning composer of such hits as "Lullaby of Broadway," Harry Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film, including the first blockbuster on-screen musical “42nd Street.” Born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna, Warren wrote over 800 songs, among them "At Last," rendered beloved to the modern listener by Etta James’s powerful voice. Alex Leonard performs some of Warren’s standards and gives a history of famous Italian American crooners who also sang his songs.

This month’s episode of ITALICS brings us: Lucia Grillo talks with Nicky Sitnycky, owner of John’s of 12th Street; Cheryl Della Pietra, author of “Gonzo Girl”; NOIAW, the National Organization of Italian American Women, holds a special celebration honoring the recent appointments of two Italian American women: Janet DiFiore, and Maria T. Vullo.

ITALICS talk to actors, directors, and organizers of Open Roads Contemporary Italian Film Festival at Lincoln Center. In Albany, Italian American Day is presented by the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators. New York Women in Film’s “Designing Women” Awards at the CUNY Graduate Center.

It’s gala season in Italian America! This episode of ITALICS takes us to The St. Regis New York and Cipriani 42nd Street, for NOIAW – the National Organization of Italian American Women’s 35th Anniversary Gala, and NIAF – the National Italian American Foundation’s 2016 New York Gala. Lucia Grillo talks with NOIAW honorees Alisyn Camerota - CNN Anchor and “New Day” co-host - and Jeanne Mariani Sullivan - founding principal of Starvest Partners - and others at the St. Regis. Then, she steps on the red carpet at Cipriani 42nd Street to talk with NIAF honoree Mike Piazza – slated to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July – and more!

On this episode of ITALICS, we’ll go to the Art Students League in Manhattan, where sculpture professor, Dionisio Cimarelli, talks about his major works – created in China – and a special technique he invented in order to execute a particular piece. ITALICS continues its series, “Italian Americans in Journalism,” with Anthony Fasano and Dolores Alfieri of the “Italian American Podcast.”